THE Chairman of Dudley Muslim Association, Dr Khurshid Ahmed has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Dr Ahmed has been recognised by Buckingham Palace for his services to customer relations during his time spent working in Birmingham.

Khurshid has had extensive involvement in community development throughout his working life and has strived to tackle discrimination and disadvantage.

In 1974 he joined the Dudley Community Relations Council as well as holding the position of Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Race Relations and Equal Opportunities at Birmingham City Council from 1984. In 2002 he was also appointed as a Commissioner at the Commission for Racial Equality.

Most recently, in his role as chairman of both Dudley Muslim Association and the British Muslim Forum, he has been leading the appeal against Dudley Council to build an £18 million mosque and community and training centre in the town. The four day planning inquiry was held last week with a planning inspector expected to make a final decision in the next few weeks.

Speaking about his accolade, Dr Ahmed said: "It is a very humbling experience to receive the award, but it is all down to the hard work of my staff during my time in Birmingham and my colleagues working in the Black Country.

"It is due to their dedication and team work which has led to this. The credit must go to them for their support.

"However I am absolutely thrilled that this work of my colleagues had been recognised. I'm extremely humbled as I don't think I am worth a CBE."

Khurshid is expected to be awarded his CBE in the next few months.